sarka



A. J. sARKA COIL HANDLING MECHANISM Feb. 4, 1958 Filed June 25, 1956 4Sh eet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Albert J. Sorko Feb. 4, 1958 A. J. SARKA2,322,139

COIL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1956 4 ShetS-Sheet 5 Fig.3. m

INVENTOR Alberi J. Sorkc M7 W66 q/ Feb. 4-, 1958 A. J. SARKA 2,822,139

COIL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 25 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5.

9| 1 I l l l I I 9O 93 89 90 I 1 I i Q 7 1 B5 INVENTOR Albert J. SurkohijflM W United States Patent COIL HANDLING MECHANISM Albert J. Sarka,Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor to Wean Equipment Corporation, Euclid,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 25, 1956, Serial No.593,619

20 Claims. (Cl. 242-79) This invention relates to coil handlingmechanism, particularly mechanism for moving coils into position to betaken by an uncoiler or similar mechanism. My copending applicationSerial No. 593,621, filed of even date herewith, discloses and claimscoil handling mechanism which may take the form of an uncoiler, thedisclosure also including mechanism for moving coils into position to betaken by the uncoiler. The present application has the same disclosureas said copending application but claims the coil handling mechanism formoving the coils into position to be taken by the uncoiler.

The mechanism for moving coils into position to be taken by an uncoileror other mechanism for taking the coils is believed to be unique in anumber of respects, being of extremely simple and inexpensiveconstruction yet effectively and accurately functioning to move coilsinto the desired position.

I provide, in coil handling mechanism, three coil saddles arranged inside-by-side relation so that a narrow coil may be supported by themiddle saddle and a wide coil may be supported by the two outer saddles,means for raising the middle saddle alone to raise a narrow coilsupported thereby and means for raising the two outer saddles to raise aWide coil supported thereby.

I further provide, in coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier comprisinga body, wheel means carried by the body and adapted to roll uponsupporting means when the carrier advances to partially support thecarrier and a plurality of coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship each connected at one end tothe body and projecting therefrom, and means underlying and supportingthe portions of the coil supporting members remote from the body wherebya coil may be introduced between heads portions of which lie between thecoil supporting members when the carrier advances.

I further provide, in coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having aplurality of forwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged ingenerally parallel generally horizontal relationship with their forwardends freely spaced from one another to enable introduction of a coilbetween heads portions of which lie between the coil supporting memberswhen the carrier moves forwardly and means underlying and supporting theforward ends of the coil supporting members, said last mentioned meanshaving guiding portions cooperating with the coil supporting members toinsure proper guiding as well as supporting thereof. I preferablyprovide a roll extending generally transversely of the coil supportingmembers and underlying and supporting the forward ends thereof, the rollhaving guiding flanges cooperating with the coil supporting members toguide the same when the carrier moves forwardly. Means are preferablyprovided for driving the roll and the roll may have gear means thereonand rack means may be carried by at least one of the coil supportingmembers and meshing with the gear means whereby the coil carrier ismoved forwardly and rearwardly.

2,822,139 atented Feb. 4, 1958 I further provide, in coil handlingmechanism, a coil carrier, coil positioning means on the carrier,retainers adapted to engage the sides of a coil carried by the car rierand positioned by the coil positioning means and means connecting theretainers to the carrier for relative movement to positions to engagethe sides of the coils of different widths. A shaft may be provided onthe carrier, the shaft having its axis parallel to the coil axis, andthe retainers may be mounted on the shaft for pivotal movement about theaxis of the shaft to inoperative positions relatively remote from thecoil. The retainers may be mounted on and movable along an elongatedmounting member to adjusted positions to engage the sides of coils ofdifferent widths. Means may be provided engaging the retainers when inselected operative positions to hold them against movement along theelongated mounting member or shaft.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of a present preferred embodimentthereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodimentof the invention in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view, withportions in vertical longitudinal cross-section, of a strip uncoiler;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view, with portions in verticaltransverse cross-section, of the strip uncoiler shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the .uncoiler with a portion broken away toshow the mechanism at the lower portion thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on theline IV-lV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail elevational view showing mechanism formoving a coil into place in the uncoiler, a coil being disposed in suchmechanism;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 5 but with thecoil removed; and

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the lineVII-VII of Figure 5.

The uncoiler comprises a generally horizontal base 2 carrying upwardprojections 3 at opposite sides thereof. Each upward projection 3carries a stationary bearing 4 whose axis is horizontal, the bearings 4in the respective upward projections 3 being coaxial. Mounted forsliding movement in each of the bearings 4 is a hollow shaft 5.Rotatably mounted on the inner end of each of the hollow shafts 5 is agenerally upright generally circular member 6 having therein a socket 7,the sockets 7 each being open at one side, the open sides of the socketsfacing each other. Each of the members 6 is journaled on a bearing 8carried by the corresponding hollow shaft 5.

A shaft 9 is coaxial with each hollow shaft 5 and disposed therewithinbut projecting therefrom at the inner end thereof. Each shaft 9 ismounted for sliding movement axially of the corresponding hollow shaft 5upon a bearing 10 carried by the shaft 9 and a bearing 11 carried by thehollow shaft 5 and disposed therewithin. Rotatably mounted upon theextremity of each shaft 9 is a coil supporting member 12. Each coilsupporting member 12 has a generally circular rim 13, and a bearing 14is disposed about the rim 13 and bears against the annular wall of thecorresponding socket 7. Each coil supporting member 12 is rotatablymounted on the corresponding shaft 9 by bearings 15. Thus each member 6may rotate relatively to the corresponding hollow shaft 5 and each coilsupporting member 12 may rotate relatively to the corresponding shaft 9,the members 6 and 12 at each side of the uncoiler normally rotatingtogether in operation of the uncoiler. To insure such rotation togetherkeys 15a are built into the socket In Figure 3 the clutch members 57 and57b-are shown-in engagement and the clutch members 58 and 58b are shownout of engagement. In that position of the parts the motor 54 drives theshaft 57a but does not drive the shaft 58a. If the operating handle 64is moved toward the left viewing Figure 3 the rod 66 is moved toward theright and because of its connection with the lever 59 at at 67 turns thelever 59 in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of the pivot60 to disengage the clutch members 57 and 57b and engage the clutchmembers 58 and 58b. When that has been done the shaft 58a is drivenwhile the shaft 57a is not driven.

The shaft 57a is connected with the worm 48a to drive the same by asprocket chain 68. The shaft 58a is connected with the worms 47a and 49ato drive the same by sprocket chains 69 and 70 respectively. Thus whenthe shaft 57a is driven the saddle 48 alone is operated and when theshaft 58a is driven the saddles 47 and 49 are operated but the saddle 48is not. The motor 54 is a reversing motor so the shafts 57a and 58a maybe driven in both directions. Driving of the motor in one directionraises the saddle or saddles and driving of the motor in the oppositedirection lowers the saddle or saddles. When a narrow coil is beinghandled it is introduced centrally upon the saddle 48 and by that saddlealone raised into coaxial position in the uncoiler. When a wide coil isbeing handled it is also introduced centrally of the uncoiler but israised by the saddles 47 and 49, the saddle 48 remaining in its loweredposition.

Rotatably mounted in bearings 71 carried by the base 2 is a rolldesignated generally by reference numeral 72 whose axis is parallel tothe common axis of the hollow shafts 5 and the shafts 9 and to the axesof the rollers 35 and which is generally cylindrical but provided atspaced intervals with annular flanges 73. The flanges 73 are spacedapart to provide guideways 74 for elongated coil supporting memberspresently to be described. The roll 72 is driven by an electric motor 75through a gear reducer 76, a driving pinion 77 and a driving gear 78 onthe end of the roll shaft with which the driving pinion meshes.

It will be noted that there are four of the guideways 74 and that threeof them are defined on both sides by flanges 73 alone while one of theguideways is defined on one side by such a flange with a ring gear 79 atits periphery.

I provide a coil carrier comprising a body 80 in which is mounted anaxle 81 carrying wheels 82. The wheels 82 are adapted to ride upon rails83 which extend generally longitudinally of the uncoiler or in otherwords generally transversely of the axis of the uncoiler which during anuncoiling operation coincides with the axis of the coil being uncoiled.One of the wheels 82 is flanged as shown at 84 to insure guiding of thecarrier in its movement along the rails. The coil carrier also has aplurality of elongated coil supporting members 85. The elongated coilsupporting members 85 are connected at one end to the body 80 of thecarrier and project therefrom in cantilever fashion. There are fourelongated coil supporting members 85 in the form of structure shown inthe drawings, such members being of uniform width coinciding with thewidth of the guideways 74 and also having the same spacing as theguideways 74. The respective elongated coil supporting members 85 havetheir portions disposed relatively remote from the body 80 of thecarrier supported upon the roll 72 between the flanges 73 so that inmovement of the carrier along the rails 83 the elongated coil supportingmembers 85 are supported and guided by the roll 72. Desirably the uppersurface of the roll 72 intermediate the flanges 73 is at the sameelevation above the upper surfaces of the rails 83 as the upper surfacesof the rollers 35 so that when the coil carrier is projected toward theright viewing, for example, Figure l, the rollers 35 will assist theroll 72 in supporting the members 85. v The member 85 which is disposedH next the ring gear 79 has a rack 86 connected therewith at its outersurface and meshing with the ring gear 79. Y

The coil carrier is adapted to support a coil either upon the two innerelongated coil supporting members if the coil is a relatively narrow oneor upon all four of the elongated coil supporting members 85 if the coilis a wider one. Chocks 88 carried by the members 85 at the uppersurfaces thereof are adapted to position a coil upon the coil carrier asshown in Figure 5. The spacing apart of the elongated coil supportingmembers 85 is such that when those members lie in their advancedposition so that they are generally above the saddles 47, 48 and 49 theywill not interfere with upward movement of the saddles to take and raiseupwardly therefrom a coil disposed thereon. As is clearly shown inFigure 2 the saddle 48 operates between the two inner elongated coilsupporting members 85, the saddle 47 operates between the outer suchmember and the next to outer such member at one side of the carrier andthe saddle 49 operates between the outer such member and the next toouter such member at the opposite side of the coil carrier. If arelatively narrow coil is being handled it will be introduced upon thetwo inner elongated coil supporting members 85 and lifted from them bythe saddle 48. If a relatively wide coil is being handled it will beintroduced upon all four of the elongated coil supporting members 85 andlifted from them by the saddles 47 and 49 operating in unison as aboveexplained. The coil carrier may if desired be retracted after the coilintroduced thereon has been lifted therefrom by one or more of thesaddles 47, 48 and 49 and while the coil is still supported by thesaddle or saddles.

While one coil is being uncoiled another coil may be 48 and 49. Ofcourse, the members 6 and 12 will be positioned out of the way of theincoming coil and also 1 out of the way of the elongated coil supportingmembers 85. When the coil carrier has reached the inner end of itsstroke the coil is raised therefrom and taken by the uncoiler in themanner above described.

The coil carrier has a shaft 89 upon which are mounted two hubs 90.Connected with each hub 90 is a retainer 91. tipping over sidewise. Theretainers and hubs may be turned about the axis of the shaft 89 betweenlowered operative position as shown in Figure 5 and raisedinoperativeposition. When the retainers are in raised inoperative position they maybe moved longitudinally of the shaft 89 for adjustment for coils ofditferent widths. Also mounted on the coil carrier is a bar 92 havingtherein upwardly open slots 93 which receive the retainers 91 as shownin Figures 5 and 6 to maintain them in desired adjusted operativepositions. When a narrow coil is set down upon the coil carrier theretainers 91 may be adjusted into positions at the sides of the coil toapproximately maintain its orientation as it is introduced into theuncoiler by advance of the coil carrier and prevent it from tippingover. The coil carrier is moved back and forth by operation of the motor75 in the respective directions, that motor being a reversing typemotor.

Subject matter disclosed but not claimed herein is claimed in ourcopending application Serial No. 593,621 filed of even date herewith.

While we have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the followingclaims.

The retainers are to prevent narrow coils from 7 'I claim:

1. In coil handling mechanism, three coil saddles arranged inside-by-side relation so that a narrow coil may be supported by themiddle saddle and a wide coil may be supported by the two outer saddles,means for raising the middle saddle alone to raise a narrow coilsupported thereby and means for raising the two outer saddles to raise awide coil supported thereby.

2. In coil handling mechanism, three coil saddles arranged inside-by-side relation so that a narrow coil may be supported by themiddle saddle and a wide coil may be supported by the two outer saddles,raising means connected'with each of the three saddles for raising it, asource of power and power transmission mechanism for connecting thesource of power selectively with the raising mechanism for the middlesaddle and the raising mechanisms for the two outer saddles.

3. In coil handling mechanism, three coil saddles arranged inside-by-sid'e relation so that a narrow coil may be supported by themiddle saddle and a wide coil may be supported by the two outer saddles,raising means connected with each of the three saddles for raising it,two drive shafts, one connected with the raising means for the middlesaddle and the other connected with the raising means for the two outersaddles, a source of power and clutching means connecting the source ofpower to one of the drive shafts in one position of the clutching meansand connecting the source of power to the other drive shaft in anotherposition of the clutching means so that either the middle saddle aloneor the two outer saddles may be raised.

4. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier comprising a body, wheelmeans carried by the body and adapted to roll upon supporting means whenthe carrier advances to partially support the carrier and a plurality ofcoil supporting members arranged in generally parallel generallyhorizontal relationship each connected at one end to the body andprojecting therefrom, heads having portions lying between the coilsupporting members when the carrier advances and means underlying andsupporting the portions of the coil supporting members remote from thebody whereby a coil may be introduced between the heads.

5. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier comprising a body, wheelmeans carried by the body and adapted to roll upon supporting means whenthe carrier advances to partially support the carrier and a plurality ofcoil supporting members arranged in generally parallel generallyhorizontal relationship each connected at one end to the body andprojecting therefrom, means underlying and supporting the portions ofthe coil supporting members remote from the body and coil raising meansnormally positioned below the level of the tops of the coil supportingmembers and horizontally offset from the coil supporting members so thatafter the carrier with a coil supported thereon has been advanced to aposition with the coil generally above the coil raising means the coilraising means may move upwardly between the coil supporting members andraise the coil therefrom.

6. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier comprising a body, wheelmeans carried by the body and adapted to roll upon supporting means whenthe carrier advances to partially support the carrier and four coilsupporting members arranged in spaced apart generally parallel generallyhorizontal relationship each connected at one end to the body andprojecting therefrom, means underlying and supporting the portions ofthe coil supporting members remote from the body and three coil raisingmeans normally positioned below the level of the tops of the coilsupporting members and horizontally offset from the coil supportingmembers, one in vertical alignment with each of the three spaces betweenadjacent coil supporting members so that after the carrier with a coilsupported thereon has been advanced to a position with the coilgenerally above at least one of the coil raising means ,8, such coilraising, means may move upwardly between the coil supporting members andraise the coil therefrom;

'7. In coil'hand-ling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, heads having portions lying between thecoil supporting members when the carrier moves forwardly so that thecarrier upon such movement may introduce a coil between the heads andmeans underlying a-nd supporting the forward ends of the coil supportingmembers, said last mentioned means having guiding portions cooperatingwith the coil supporting members to insure proper guiding as well assupporting thereof.

8. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, heads having portions lying between thecoil supporting members when the carrier moves forwardly so that thecarrier upon such movement may introduce a coil between the heads and aroll extending generally transversely of the coil supporting members andunderlying and supporting the forward ends thereof,

the roll having guiding flanges cooperatingwith the coil supportingmembers to guide the same when the carrier moves forwardly.

9. In coil handling mechanism, a; coil carrier comprising a body, wheelmeans carried by the body and adapted to roll upon supporting means whenthe carrier moves forwardly and rearwardly to partially support thecarrier, coil supporting means arranged generally horizontally connectedat one end to the body and projecting therefrom, aroll extendinggenerally transversely of thecoil supporting means and underlying andsupporting the forward end thereof, means for driving the roll and adriving connection between the roll and the coil supporting meanswhereby the coil carrier is moved forwardly and rearward-1y.

10. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting mem bers arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, heads having portions lying between thecoil supporting members when the carrier moves forwardly so that thecarrier upon such movement may introduce a coil between the heads, aroll extending generally transversely of the coil supporting members andunderlying and supporting the forward ends thereof, means for drivingtheroll, the roll having gear means thereon, and rack means carried by atleast one of the coil support-ingmembers and meshing with the gear meanswhereby the coil carrier is moved forwardly and rearwardl-y.

11. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, opposed heads adapted to engage a coilat opposite sides thereof axially of the coil, at least one of the headshaving a portion adapted when the head is in an operative position tolie between the coil supporting members when the carrier moves forwardlyso that a coil carried by the coil supporting members may be introducedinto position generally between the heads and means underlying andsupporting the forward portions of the coil supporting members.

12. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, opposed heads adapted to engage a coilat opposite sides thereof axially of the coil, at least one of the coilsupporting members being disposed between portions of the heads when thecarrier moves forwardly to introduce a coil carried by the coilsupporting members into position generally between the heads, meansunderlying and supporting the forward portions of the coil supportingmembers and coil raising means normally positioned below the level ofthe tops of the coil supporting members and horizontally offset from thecoil supporting members so that after the carrier with a coil supportedon the coil supporting members has been advanced to position the coilgenerally between the heads the coil raising means may move upwardlybetween the coil supporting members to raise the coil therefrom toposition the coil substantially coaxially with the heads.

13. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, opposed heads adapted to engage a coilat opposite sides thereof axially of the coil, means for relativelymoving the opposed heads toward each other to engage a coil and coilraising means horizontally offset from the coil supporting membersadapted after the carrier with a coil supported on the coil supportingmembers has been advanced to position the coil generally between theheads to move upwardly between the coil supporting members to raise thecoil therefrom to position the coil substantially coaxially with theheads whereafter the carrier may be retracted while the coil issupported by the coil raising means to permit relative movement of theheads toward each other to engage the coil.

14. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having forwardlyprojecting coil supporting means arranged generally horizontally incantilever fashion, opposed heads adapted to engage a coil at oppositesides thereof axially of the coil and disposed with the axis of theheads extending generally transversely of the coil supporting means andanti-friction means underlying the heads and at least partiallysupporting the heads for rotation, said anti-friction means also beingpositioned to underlie and support the cantilevered portion of the coilsupporting means when the carrier has been advanced to position a coilgenerally between the heads.

15. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having forwardlyprojecting coil supporting members arranged in generally parallelgenerally horizontal relationship with their forward ends freely spacedfrom one another, opposed heads adapted to engage a coil at oppositesides thereof axially of the coil and disposed with the axis of theheads extending generally transversely of the coil supporting members,spaced apart rollers underlying the heads and at least partiallysupporting the heads for rotation, said rollers also being positioned tounderlie and support the forward portions of the coil supporting memberswhen the carrier has been advanced to position a coil generally betweenthe heads, and coil lifting means disposed intermediate the rollers andintermediate the coil supporting members to raise the coil from the coilsupporting members to position it substantially coaxially with theheads.

16. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier, coil positioning meanson the carrier, retainers adapted to engage the sides of a coil carriedby the carrier and positioned by the coil positioning means and meansconnecting the retainers to the carrier for relative movement topositions to engage the sides of coils of different widths.

17. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier, coil positioning meanson the carrier for positioning a coil with its axis in predeterminedorientation, a shaft on the carrier having its axis parallel to the coilaxis and retainers mounted on the shaft, the retainers being adapted toengage the sides of a coil carried by the carrier, the retainers beingpivotally movable about the axis of the shaft to inoperative positionsrelatively remote from the coil.

18. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier, coil positioning meanson the carrier for positioning a coil with its axis in predeterminedorientation, an elongated mounting member on the carrier extendinggenerally parallel to the coil axis and retainers mounted on theelongated mounting member and adapted to engage the sides of a coilcarried by the carrier, the retainers being movable along the elongatedmounting member to positions to engage the sides of coils of differentwidths.

19. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier, coil positioning meanson the carrier for positioning a coil with its axis in predeterminedorientation, a shaft on the carrier having its axis parallel to the coilaxis, retainers mounted on the shaft and adapted to engage the sides ofa coil carried by the carrier, the retainers being movable along theshaft to positions to engage the sides of coils of different widths, theretainers also being pivotally movable about the axis of the shaftbetween operative and inoperative positions, and means engaging theretainers when in selected operative positions to hold them againstmovement along the shaft.

20. In coil handling mechanism, a coil carrier having a plurality offorwardly projecting coil supporting members arranged in generallyparallel generally horizontal relationship with their forward endsfreely spaced from one another, heads having portions lying between thecoil supporting members when the carrier moves forwardly so that thecarrier upon such movement may introduce a coil between the heads,retainers adapted to engage the sides of a coil carried by the carrierand means connecting the retainers to the carrier for relative movementto positions to engage the sides of coils of different widths.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Feb.4, 1958 P. M. RODRIGUEZ 2,822,140

TAKE-APART KITE Filed Feb. 28, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 55 50 A I I4 57 5{I l' u :4

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